588 EVERYDAY SCIENCE 



paper to the depth of four inches. Cover this with one or two 

 thicknesses of sheet asbestos | inch thick. (If non-inflammable 

 packing material is used, this asbestos cover for the lower four 

 inches of packing is not needed.) 



Wrap the metal nest with a sheet of the asbestos paper, and stand 

 it, without the collar, on top of the packing, in the center of the box. 

 Pack more shredded paper, or whatever insulating material is being 

 used, all around the nest as solidly as possible, until it reaches the 

 rim of the metal nest. The top of the packing material and the rim 

 of the nest should now be about four inches, or more, below the 

 cover of the box. 



Carefully remove the metal nest, slip the galvanized iron collar 

 over the bottom' of it, and slide it up until it rests just under the 

 rolled rim of the nest. Cut a piece of sheet asbestos of the same 

 shape as the collar and fit it just under the collar. Now replace the 

 nest carefully, and the collar with the asbestos lining under it will 

 cover the packing completely. 



Cushion or Pad. A cushion or pad (Figure 10, G) must be pro- 

 vided to fill completely the space between the collar or flange and 

 the cover of the box. This should be made of some heavy goods, 

 such as denim, and stuffed with asbestos fiber, cotton, shredded 

 paper, or excelsior. 



A heavy but very efficient pad may be made by tying or quilting 

 newspapers together that have been cut to fit the top space, and 

 covering this paper pad with denim. The pad should be exposed 

 to sun and air whenever it is not in use. 



To Use the Cooker. A fireless cooker is best suited to those foods 

 which require boiling, steaming, or long slow cooking in a moist 

 heat. The classes of food best adapted to the cooker are cereals, 

 soups, meats, vegetables, dried fruits, steamed breads, and puddings. 

 Less water is needed than when foods are cooked on the stove, 

 because there is practically no escape of moisture from the cooking 

 kettle. 



To cook food, bring it to a boil on the stove, and at the same time 

 heat the brick or soapstone. Transfer the heated plate to the nest r 

 close the cooking kettle tightly, and place it on the heated plate 



